Luiz Felipe Scolari loved Derry

Derry bus driver Jonathan Leckey with World Cup winning ex-Brazil coach Luiz Felipe 'Big Phil' Scolari, who was spotted doing the rounds in the city recently.

Kevin Mullan

Published:11:48Sunday 08 January 2017

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World Cup winning former Brazil coach, ‘Big Phil’ Scolari, says he loved Derry after catching a lift with local busman Jonathan Leckey during his Christmas holidays.

The Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC supremo, who used to manage Portugal and Chelsea, had local punters doing a double take when they spotted him in Ebrington, the Richmond Centre, The Sandwich Company and on the 212.

Turns out he was in Ireland visiting the young fellah, who works in Lisburn.

Speaking to the BBC in St George’s Market, he explained: “I came before Christmas because I have one son at work in Lisburn near Belfast and my holidays, I stay here, ten, fifteen days, and after this time I come back to China, my team,

“I like, very much here, Belfast, Londonderry, Dublin, the people are very nice. They’re lovely. I like.”